Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul said Tuesday that he had mixed feelings about the Occupy Wall Street movement.

“I think it’s both very good, and very risky,” he said in an interview with The Des Moines Register. “I think there are a few that attend these rallies that actually want more government — they want to just tax people more and believe if we just taxed the 1 percent, it could solve all the problems.

“That, to me, is a risky idea.” Paul continued. “But I think that the majority of them think government is the problem and taxes are too high and they know that the Federal Reserve plays a role in this, which, of course, is something I agree with.”

The national protest also highlights the degree to which the U.S. monetary policy has hurt average Americans, said Paul. The Texas Congressman was in Iowa for the National Association of Manufacturers presidential candidate forum in Pella, and took time to speak to voters in Oskaloosa and Ottumwa.

“Last year it was the tea party people that were unhappy, and now it’s the Occupy people,” Paul said. “I don’t think it’s as simple as Republicans and Democrats. I believe they are all lumped together being unhappy with government for different reasons.”

OTHER THEMES: Paul continued to pitch his “Plan to Restore America,” released last month. The proposal would cut $1 trillion in federal spending during the first year of a Paul presidency by eliminating the federal departments of energy, housing and urban development, commerce, interior, and education.

The initial cuts would bring the U.S. closer to paying down the national debt and could spur economic growth for the nation, Paul told the audience in Oskaloosa.

“The support has been growing because people are starting to wake up and realize that if you get into trouble spending too much money, then spending more money is not going to solve the problem,” Paul said.

CROWD: Roughly 400 people attended the forum in Pella; about 80 diners listened to Paul’s noon speech in Oskaloosa; roughly 100 people attended the Ottumwa town hall meeting.

THE CANDIDATE’S DAY: Paul’s three appearances are part of an aggressive ground campaign in Iowa this week. The candidate made appearances in Des Moines and Carroll on Saturday. He’ll be back Friday for more campaign events, including a stop at the Republican Party of Iowa’s Ronald Reagan Dinner in Des Moines.

PLACE IN THE RACE: The Des Moines Register’s Iowa Poll, released last weekend, shows Paul in third place with 12 percent, behind retired businessman Herman Cain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 23 percent and 22 percent, respectively